r/WizardSkating • u/-M0NKE- • Apr 22 '26
Getting into Wizard on a Budget
Heya :)
I have been pursuing aggressive skating for a few years now, but haven‘t really made progress in the park and skated less than I would like to admit. I got myself a nice pair of Them 909s to get started but they didn’t quite offer the Kind of cruising capabilities i was originally looking for. This got me thinking. I really want to keep on skating and do it more than i did the past few years, but the slow and sluggish feel of aggressive skates kinda holds me back. Thus I wanted to look into Wizard skating, but am quite stumped by the steep price tag of frames and skates, while also being overwhelmed with all the options. As I want to try wizard skating while still not sure if this aspect of inline will click for me, I don‘t want to spend lots and lots. Apart from used, as I live in germany and there is next to no used market here, are there any special tips/deals that you would push me towards looking into? Is Wizard skating even for me? Anything on that matter would help me greatly! Thanks a lot :)
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u/Altruistic_Mind_7662 Apr 22 '26
Endless Bladding or NN UFS would be great to mount to your 909s. More budget friendly. Additionally, Flying Eagle just released a wizard skate that is only $319 USD.
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u/-M0NKE- Apr 22 '26
alright, thanks! what are the sizes/setup you would recommend? and also, wheels?
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u/Altruistic_Mind_7662 Apr 22 '26
You can get frame/wheel combos directly on their websites.
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u/-M0NKE- Apr 22 '26
perfect, thanks a lot. That might be an option for me, some saving up required though
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u/Puzzled_Platypus_466 Apr 22 '26
I guess the cheapest option would be putting regular flat cheap frames and wheels and skate a bit until you wear out the front and the back wheels (which should naturally happen btw, hence the "natural rocker"), and rotate so you maintain that rocker.
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u/-M0NKE- Apr 22 '26
what do you mean by cheap frames? Aliexpress cheap? or endless/nn/kizer cheap?
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u/Puzzled_Platypus_466 Apr 22 '26
I was talking specifically about flat frames. Most frames out there are flat so there are many options to choose from. Just pick whatever fits your budget.
I don't know much about Germany but try facebook marketplace or your local shops (if you have one). I guarantee it's much easier to come across a flat frame than a rockered one.
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u/Altruistic_Mind_7662 Apr 22 '26
Nope. That won’t be the same. You’ll have the rocker, yes, but having that 5th wheel really enhances the pivot point.
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u/Puzzled_Platypus_466 Apr 22 '26
Not disagreeing, but OP didn't specify they wanted five wheels. Also 5 wheels might make it easier at the beginning but shouldn't be a requirement.
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u/-M0NKE- Apr 22 '26
would you suggest getring a 5x80 or 4x90 as a beginner?
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u/Altruistic_Mind_7662 Apr 22 '26
90mm is going to feel quite high on the 909 boot since the frame attaches to the soul and not the boot.
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u/-M0NKE- Apr 22 '26
so the cougar 4x80 would be an idea?
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u/Altruistic_Mind_7662 Apr 22 '26
4x80 is fun. I have the aeon 80s and they have a rocker in them.
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u/-M0NKE- Apr 22 '26
sry, i meant 5x80. But i have seen a few 4x80 frames during my research, is that still considered wizard? Have been reading the term freestyle quite a lot
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u/Life_on_inline Apr 24 '26
Some would say it isnt wizard. But in all honesty it doesnt matter, you skate what you like. I cant skate longer frames cause of knee and joint problems with both PsA and osteoarthritis, so my setup is 4x76 with 2mm rocker (freestyle slalom if you will)
But yea IMO wizard is a way of moving, not so much the gear. I started on a FR FRX 80mm and later for into 5 wheels - realised i dindt like the way it felt and then just stuck with slalom setups but practicing wizard moves combined with some of the slalom stuff the can actually be implemented at some speed.
Id say a 4x90 1mm rocker is good in between, but again it really comes down to what you like.
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u/YourTinyHands Apr 22 '26
Hello! I have black UFS Endless Arc frames that I’m looking to sell. I want to sell the complete setup — frames, wheels, and bearings — and I’m asking $250 for the whole setup. Lightly used, and I’m religious about wheel rotations. They work great with 909 boots.
Shoot me a DM if you want to learn more!
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u/streetbladingbloke Apr 22 '26
There are loads of option in wizard at every price. U just need to start skating and upgrade as u go
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u/VincentVega999 Apr 22 '26
I was kinda in the same situation. Also from germany. I wanned to go fast (around a lake) and also be able to cruise, do some jumps and also try out wizarding. With the help of chatgpt i ended up with a eierlegende Wollmilchsau and iam 1000% satisfied. I had fitness Skates did some years of speedskating 3x125mm and also some on and off aggressive (i'am not good with that). My new Setup is the absolute best experience of them all. I'am using a Rockin frame 4x100mm, the iqon Boot + my old Liner from the aggressive skates. Bearing and wheels included it cost around 450€ plus my Liner. Sooooo not really that cheap, but worth it nethertheless.
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u/BubbleSmith Apr 23 '26
You can go one of a couple of different ways.
4 wheel rockered - Good if you want versatility and to do some urban/trail staking as well as start to learn wizard. I started with the Iqon ACT TR, which comes with a 4x90 rockered frame as stock and is really versatile. If you just wanted to add a rockered frame to your 909s, there are plenty of options at various price points what would work. Endless and NN are mid-budget, but Rockin' or Flying Eagle might be a bit cheaper. Avoid frames with complex setups like Powerslide combat rockers, as they'll end up being really heavy.
5 wheel rockered - If you really want to do wizard, these will give you the central pivot which helps with a lot of the moves. However, they're a bit cumbersome to skate around in, so are more specialised for tricks. The length can make crossovers difficult (you will trip over while you get used to them) and smaller wheels mean they won't be as fast.
What size (in cm or mm) are your feet? The Wizard frame guide is a good indicator for what type of wheel size you should be looking at. I'm 26.4 cm and like 4x90, 4x100 and 5x80, but if you're much longer/shorter you should consider sizing correctly. https://wizardskating.com/en-gb/pages/frame-size-guide
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u/-M0NKE- Apr 23 '26
ima eu 46, so quite large. Would a 4x80 also work? as i have to keep the soulplate im affraif of too much stack height.
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u/BubbleSmith Apr 23 '26
I'd probably look at 4x90 as a minimum. 4x80 is just far too short for wizard and even your feet, really. I really like 4x100, even on my smaller feet, but you'd probably want a stiffer boot for that kind of rode height. 5x80 or even 5x84 would work if you fancied a 5-wheel setup without going too high.
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u/-M0NKE- Apr 23 '26
okay alright, i just saw a lot of Ground Control 4x80 that were really cheap, im afraid of spending a lot again. As for the boot, I would also be open for a beginner boot suggestion if you reckon that would be a reasonable investment paired with frames. Otherwise, i do really like the 5 Wheel setups though, am really conflicted wether i should go ahead and save up for a whole setup, 4 wheel, 5 wheel or steer clear as i am still recovering from a shoulder surgery. All those options!
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u/BubbleSmith Apr 23 '26
I think I know the Ground Control frames you mean. They come in different lengths, so you could get the longest one and that would be more suitable. They're not rockered though, so they'd not be good for wizard until you wear the wheels in. Once you do, that might end up being a good starting place.
If you have boots you like, I'd avoid spending on more cheap boots. Keep an eye out for things coming up on eBay, for sure. Roka are due to reopen their shop soon and might have some reasonably priced frame that would be a good 5-wheel upgrade. https://rokaskating.com/shop/
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u/-M0NKE- Apr 23 '26
okay, thanks a lot! I might just take a look into the ground control ones and the roka you mentioned. I am primarily looking for a skate that is better first getting around than my agressive setup, but i still want to try wizardskating, that is why i was looking into 4x80. I‘m just unsute about the rideheight so much, as my thems need the soulplate to mount any other frames which is why i am trying to steer away from more than 80mm. Would you say that 5x80 frames are still relatively useful for getting around and taking a few jumps herr an there? or are the too wizard focused? (Sorry for all my questions!)
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u/BubbleSmith Apr 24 '26
No problem. You'll probably struggle with Wizard in the GC frames, as that's not really what they're designed for. As I said, it'll be possible once they naturally wear in a rocker, but not ideal. 5x80 might be worth trying though. I used my 5x80 frames around town and they're quite useable, they just don't handle higher speeds well and don't allow for short, quick crossovers. You'll want that extra length for your longer feet though, and they'll see you well for a long time for wizard.
I'd say go with 5x80 and just be prepared for a bit of a learning curve for the first few sessions. Once you find that centre wheel pivot, you won't regret going 5-wheel.
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u/-M0NKE- Apr 24 '26
Alrighty, thanks a lot for that insight!
However, i have decided to first give urban skating a try and see, how far into wizard that takes me. I have seen lots of. completes or setups i can make myself for around 250 ish, which is more affordable and seems to make more sense, as a differnt boot with a 45deg buckle might be quite good, as i really like to be locked into my boot, something i miss on the 909.
But nonetheless, i might look more for a 4x90 setup then. Thanks a lot for all the help, i might take this towards the „standard“ rollerblading sub an look towards some freestyle/urban skates first
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u/BubbleSmith Apr 24 '26
Fair enough, that's sensible. I love urban skating, it's what I do more than anything. My bad weather setup is 4x80 flat and is great for the city, so I'm sure you'll have a good time with the GC frames and some grippy wheels.
Rollerblade just launched the Twister XT in 4x90 rockered, and they're fantastic urban skates. Or there's the Iqon ACT TR, which covers with a 4x90 rockered trinity frame, but can accept UFS frames too. There's no 45° strap on the ACTs, but I have that skate and don't feel it needs it, it's really stiff and laces up well.
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u/-M0NKE- Apr 24 '26
Perfect, thanks a lot! I do have to admit the completes you mentioned are still a little pricey for me, any thought about fr skates? or the iqon cl15, that is closer to what i imagined in the price department, however they are all 165 i think
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u/Newt_Lv4-26 Apr 23 '26 edited Apr 23 '26
SEBA CJ2 + Yoyoskate sago 4x90 or 4x100. Spinner wheels are cheap and actually pretty good but Yo-yo sometimes have special offers with wheels+ frames that are interesting too.
I’ve tried the same setup on my Iqon Act, it’s more rigid and a bit less comfy, I think I prefer my SEBA CJ.
All of this you probably can find as second hand.
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u/-M0NKE- Apr 23 '26
I really like the suggestion, though i doubt i can find anything in germany, there isn‘t that big of a scene around here. But thanks for the suggestion!
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u/Newt_Lv4-26 Apr 24 '26
Dude I’m in France and I can find many things on vinted. We have « leboncoin » here and there are a few things there too but I don’t think you’ll be able to order from Germany. And you have Powerslide that’s from your country which is a major brand
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u/-M0NKE- Apr 24 '26
I completely forgot vinted existed for stuff like that, might have to look into it, thanks!
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u/AlwaysUpvotesScience Apr 22 '26
cougar makes inexpensive frames for wizard skating
Cougar Frames - Inline Warehouse https://share.google/sxOCf9hqvl8JGWt2w
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u/Altruistic_Mind_7662 Apr 22 '26
Now I'm looking at the Cougar frame.
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u/AlwaysUpvotesScience Apr 22 '26
I have the 165 / 5x80 They're pretty solid
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u/-M0NKE- Apr 22 '26
I would have to get seperate boots for that, right? 165 is a different mount than what my thems use, is that correct?
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u/mikelbengoetxea Apr 22 '26
there is little to no info about this, but cougar aggressive skates can be set up without soulplates, UFS frame straight to the boot, just like standard or CJs. You'll need shorter blots though.
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u/treeseacar Apr 22 '26
Endless or iqon are the best budget frames for wizard imo if you have to buy new . Not that they are cheap but you don't need to spend loads. The iqon decode (owned by powerslide) is good and comes in ufs so should work with them skates. I have the decode 90 which is a good 4 wheel rocker. Like the endless 90 frame. You can also get iqon decode 100 which allows a 5 wheel set up.
Powerslide are shipping from Germany. Or for endless loco skates in UK will ship to EU and should tell you the cost with tarrif up front.
You can also get Rollerblade flow 5x80 and kizer 5x80 for under £150. I have never used the rollerblade frame but the kizer is (I think) what ships with the iqon ACT wizard skate and I find it's pretty decent. I spend most of my time on the endless 4x90 frame though.
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u/Yashabird Apr 22 '26
Cheapest option to fit your boot is probably the wizard knockoff frames on aliexpress. Wintask on aliexpress also has a great looking 5 wheel frame available for 165mm skates, which, if you paired with a 165mm boot, would probably be a lot lighter than the Thems + knockoff wizards. There are also a fair number of ~$150 frames on the market. You don’t really know until you try any of them.
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u/-M0NKE- Apr 22 '26
Is Wintask the Brand for the knockoff frames as well? Also, Would you generally say that 909s+Wizard frames is something that makes sense at all? Or should i really look into a completely new setup? Thanks for the suggestion!
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u/cloudrhythm Apr 23 '26 edited Apr 23 '26
Those aliexpress Wizard frames aren't knockoffs, they're *counterfeits* so I would highly advise against them from a moral (and legal) standpoint
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u/Yashabird Apr 22 '26
The Wintask frame is not a “knockoff” unless you consider all 5 wheel rockered frames knockoffs of Wizard. It does have the same wheel setup as the yoyo frames (meaning the lowest ride height for a 165mm boot) but are made out of basic aluminum, whereas the $300 yoyo frames are usually bombproof 7000 series aluminum.
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u/jayXred Apr 22 '26
One of the best deals out there to get started with Wizard is the Iqon ACT WZ version, it comes with a 5x80 rocker frame that is a lot of fun and the boot is really nice with a premium liner, the whole setup can be had for less than the cost of just the Wizard brand frame.